Rotatable pool table with ball bearing braking structure

ABSTRACT

A rotatable, round pool table pivoted at the center on a spindle and supported by a plurality of ball bearings which because of a three-point housing support of the balls held therein also provide a braking action against a fixed base. The playing surface of the table is pentagonally shaped, flat and interrupted by depressed, irregular shaped pockets. Additionally, the table has an elevated edge to form the rear enclosure for each of the pockets.

United States Patent [1 1 Van Derhei ROTATABLE POOL TABLE WITH BALL BEARING BRAKING STRUCTURE Inventor:

Filed:

Vivian S. Van Derhei, 1229 S.

Casino Center, Las Vegas, Nev. 89104 Sept. 21, 1972 App]. No.: 291,017

US. Cl. 273/3 B, 272/57 A, 273/3 A,

Int. Cl A63d 15/00 Field of Search 273/2, 3 A, 3 B, 12, 123 R,

273/126 R, 128 R; 272/57 A; 308/201, 235

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Reid 308/235 Perkins 273/3 B Herrman.... 308/235 Albee 308/235 X Braun 273/128 R X [4 1 Apr. 2, 1974 2,623,749 12/1952 Kummer 273/123 R 803,520 10/1905 Arney 691,452 l/l902 Dethloff 273/12 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 24,059 8/1912 Great Britain 273/3 B 109,242 4/1928 Austria 273/3 B Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Paul D. Gaetjens [57] ABSTRACT A rotatable, round pool table pivoted at the center on a spindle and supported by a plurality of ball bearings which because of a three-point housing support of the balls held therein also provide a braking action against a fixed base. The playing surface of the table is pentagonally shaped, flat and interrupted by depressed, irregular shaped pockets. Additionally, the table has an elevated edge to form the rear enclosure for each of the pockets.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures FATENTEU APR 2 974 Fig.2

Fig. 4

ROTATABLE POOL TABLE WITH BALL BEARING BRAKING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and improved gaming device and, more particularly, to a gaming device including a rotatable, round table having a flat surface with raised sides, depressed, irregular shaped pockets, and supported by a ball bearing means that exerts considerable friction against a fixed base, said device being for the play of billiards, marbles, or similar games by propelling these objects by means of a suitable cue stick into said pockets.

2. Description of the Prior Art The game of billards, pool, or pocket billiards is so well known as to obviate explanation of the method and means of playing the same. Round billiard tables that are rotatable on a centrally located spindle are known in the art, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 895,786, F. G. Perkins. Additionally, the prior art discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,44, J. Lacson, the use of depressed pockets integral with the playing surface of the table. The inventor is further aware of U.S. Pat. No. 1,512,442, R. C. Arnold, which shows a roller system that supports and allows rotation of the playing table.

The advantages of the present invention over the cited prior art are as follows:

a. The irregular shaped pockets contain the balls better than the conventional ones and do not allow them to bounce back onto the playing surface or out of the pocket.

b. A bearing system that provides smooth rotation and stability 'to the table while having a braking action that holds the table at a desired position without use of gears or beveled rollers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with a round, rotatable, pool or billiard type table that is pivoted at the center on a spindle, and supported by ball bearings inserted on the underside of said table and exerting pressure against a fixed base, a flat playing surface that is pentagonally shaped with appropriate cushion material lining the periphery which is interrupted by five depressed, irregular shaped pockets situate directly opposite each side, and a raised outer rim that forms the rear enclosure of each of the said pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game table of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 22.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of one of the bearings and its housing used to support the playing table.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 4-4 showing the shape of one of the pockets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown the table 1 with billiard or pool balls 5 situate thereon. The pocket 9 is L shaped" with a raised outer rim 1 1 forming the rear enclosure of each pocket 9. The playing surface is interrupted by openings 7 of an appropriate size through which the balls 5 drop into the pocket 9 by means of a scooped cust 17. This cust 17 or half cylinder depression intersects the opening 7 at its midpoint and cause the ball 5 to immediately drop below the rim 11, thus containing the ball'in the pocket 9. At the bottom of each pocket and centered on the opening 7 is a raised ridge or divider 8 that forces the ball to an available space within the pocket. The pocket 9 has an inclined slope near its terminal end 10 that prevents the balls from bouncing out of the pocket. A series of rails or cushions 6 are situate around the periphery of the playing surface 1. These cushions 6 are attached to sections 13 and perform generally the function which these elements ordinarily do in conventional pool tables. The outer rim 11 of the table provides the rear enclosure of the pocket and is the same height as the sections 13.

FIG. 2 shows spindle 16 which allows the table 1 to be rotated along with bearing and housing means 14 that support the table against the fixed base 12 and particularly against the surface 15 of the base 12. In the present embodiment there are 5 such bearings 14. The fixed base 12 rests on a table or other such piece of furnitur'e that is of appropriate height from the floor to be convenient for the players.

FIG. 3 shows a view of one of the bearings means 14 (see FIG. 2) in which the ball bearing 21 is housed in a steel retainer 18 and said bearing having a friction point 19 and pivot or retainer points 20. The friction point 19 is a critical and novel feature since it provides a braking system whereby the table will not move unless some force is applied. In other words, the bearing 21 has been deliberately designed to be inefficient so as to provide a braking means to hold the table in a desired position. To further accomplish this task, the bearing 21 must be engaged or retained at pivot points 20 below the midline of bearing 21.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the pockets 9 in which the ridge or divider 8 is shown being centered on the opening 7 and its relationship to playing surface 1'. Cusp 17 allows soft shots of ball 5 to drop immediately below the rim (not shown in this figure). It is a critical feature of this invention that the depth of the pocket increase from the divider 8 and thereafter rise in'rapid ascent as shown by the slope of terminal end 10 formed within segment 13.

The table and its base may conveniently consist of circular disks of pressed wood approximately 32 inch thick and 36 inches and 30 inches, respectively, in diameter. The spindle is recessed so that the felt covered playing surface is flat. No particular material is required for this spindle but metal or high strength plastic is preferred. Likewise, the construction materials of the table, base cushions, and bearings can be made of any well known elements, and are not part of this invention.

The inventor is not aware of any prior art regarding the essential features of this invention, namely, the combination of irregular L shaped pocket with cusp and divider, or the inefficient bearing means that support the playing table while also providing a braking system. The pocket can be further described as extending along the periphery of the table surface and slopes down from the divider and then up near the terminal end of the pocket. The effect of these two slopes is to ensure that a ball entering the pocket 9 will roll to the end of the L shaped depression land remain there. The pocket is designed to accommodate a number of balls, the size of which is made in accordance with the other dimensions of the table. The second novel feature of this invention is the bearing means which allows the playing table to be stable (not wobble), rotate smoothly, and incurs sufficient friction within the bearing housing to hold the table in a stationary position until a significant force is applied to cause it to rotate to a new position.

The invention described heretofore is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of this invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the details discussed herein, but be accorded the scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus.

I claim:

1. An improved rotatable, round pool table being pivoted on a centrally located spindle and supported by a -4 plurality of ball bearings against a fixed base, said table having a polygonal, flat playing surface that is interrupted by aplurality of openings with pockets integral with said surface, the improvement consisting of:

a. Each of said pockets being depressed and irregular in shape and having a cusp depression which intersects one of said openings at its midpoint,

b. A divider situated at the bottom of each of said pockets and centered on one of said openings, and

provide a braking system for said table. 

1. An improved rotatable, round pool table being pivoted on a centrally located spindle and supported by a plurality of ball bearings against a fixed base, said table having a polygonal, flat playing surface that is interrupted by a plurality of openings with pockets integral with said surface, the improvement consisting of: a. Each of said pockets being depressed and irregular in shape and having a cusp depression which intersects one of said openings at its midpoint, b. A divider situated at the bottom of each of said pockets and centered on one of said openings, and c. said ball bearings each including a housing which retains at least one ball therein, said housing comprising a unitary member having two retainer portions which contact said ball substantially below the mid-line of said ball, said member further having a friction portion which contacts said ball above said mid-line such that said retainer portion bias said ball against said friction portion so as to provide a braking system for said table. 